Correlation between Physicochemical Indexes and Acidity of Sheep Milk in Different Lactation Periods

This study explored changes in the acidity of sheep milk across different lactation periods and the key factors affecting the acidity of sheep milk. The pH, titratable acidity, fat content, protein content and composition, total sugar content, mineral content, density, lactose content, fatty acid composition and content were analyzed, and the correlation between physicochemical indexes and acidity was investigated. The results indicated that the acidity of raw sheep milk was closely related to lactation stages. The highest acidity was observed in the early lactation period, which then gradually decreased as lactation progressed. Acidity changes were primarily associated with the protein content, fat content, fatty acid composition, total sugar content, lactose content, mineral content, and density of the milk. Among these, the protein content showed the strongest correlation with acidity changes, whereas fatty acid content had a relatively low correlation with acidity variations.